Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 2,780, Thomas Foster, Penn.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Penn.
Foster, Thomas
N. 2,780
Barbara
CONTENTS

15.712
Maryland
Thomas Foster
of Baltimore Co. in the state of Maryland who was a Private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Miles of the Pennsylvania line, for the term of Eighteen Months
76 & 77
Inscribed on the roll of Maryland at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 1 of September 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 of November and sent to Thos Bayly Esq. Baltimore Maryland
Arrears to 4th of Apr 1819  1.06
Semi-ann. all'ce ending Mar 1820  48.00
4 30
$49.06
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continued notification sent Oct 6 th 1820 to Philip Moore Esq.

Lot 10 March 1835 P. and S. N. Worthington

5816 Pennsylvania
Barbara Foster, widow of Thomas Foster, dec d .
who was a Pensioner under the Act of 1818 — and who died on the 19 November 1825, of York Co in the State of Penn a who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Albright of the Regt commanded by Col. Miles in the Pennsylvania line for 60 months.
Inscribed on the Roll of Philadelphia at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Sept 1840 & sent to M c Young Shrewsbury York Co. Pa
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1840 $ 150.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar '41 16.66
$ 166.66
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by D. M. Curdy, Clerk, Book A. Vol. 2. Page 157.

Thomas Foster Private
The law states that the applicants for pensions must make their decla- rations in the State in which they reside.
To be sent to Wm H Brown York Penna.
Offer must be a copy of this except when Penna is written write Many and etc.

Thomas Foster Private
He has stated that the only reason for persons not to make their accts. return in the State in which they reside.
To be sent to Wm. H. Brown New York Pamph.
There must be a copy of this except when Rev. is written write Many and all.

District of Columbia
On this twenty second day of June 1879 Before me the subscriber one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of York in said District personally appeared Thomas Foster aged about 71 years resident in the County of Baltimore State of Maryland who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" That he the said Thomas Foster enlisted for the term of one year and nine months on or about the first of March 1776 in Yorktown Penna in the Regiment of Riflemen commanded by Col. Mills or Miles in Capt Philip Albright's Company of the Penna. line on the continental establishment That he continued to serve in the said Company the 27th day of August 1776 when he was taken prisoner by the British at Long Island he was kept prisoner until the sixth day of January 1777 when he made his escape and returned to the American Army and was discharged by Genl Washington in the month of February 1777 at Morristown in

The State of New Jersey That he was in the Battle at Long Island in New York and was wounded in the left hand by a musket shot. and that he is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of the  his Country for support and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services Thomas Foster Sworn to and declared before me mark the day and year aforesaid —
Geo. Barnitz
I George Barnitz Judge etc. as aforesaid do Certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Thomas Foster did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemies for the term of nine months at one time on the continental establishment and I now transmit the proceedings and tes- timony taken and had before me to the Secretary for the Department of War pursuant to the directions of the afore- mentioned act of Congress. I am also satisfied that he needs the assistance of his country for support
June 22 nd 1819.
Geo. Barnitz

Pennsylvania
York County S.
J William Barber
Prothonotary of the court of Common Pleas in and for the 2 d County of York. Do hereby certify That George Barnetts is and was at the time of taking this deposition one of our Judges of the court of Common Pleas in and for the said County duly appointed and commis- sioned as such
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court at York this twenty second day of June 1818
W Barber Proth.

Thomas Foster
15.7.12
March 1020
M. Ginn

SCHEDULE.
United States of America (A.) Maryland District — SS.
ON this fifteenth day of September 1820, personally appeared in open court (*) being a court of records , (†) (B.) in the District Court in and _____ for the said (C.) District of Maryland —
Thomas Foster — aged seventy two years, resident in Baltimore County — in said (D.) District
who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, declare, that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows: (E.) That on or about the 10 th March 1776 he enlisted at Little York in the state of Pennsylvania into a Rifle Company commanded by Captain Philip Albright attached to the Regiment commanded by Col. Miles in the Pennsylvania Line, was engaged in the Battle of Long Island on the 27 th August 1776 taken prisoner carried on board the Jersey prison ship from which he made his escape in January 1777 returned to the Army at Morris Town in the Jerseys, and that sometime in the month of February of same year was discharged by General Washington in consequence of having received a wound in the hand and disabled at the battle aforesaid. That he here before made his original declaration before the Honorable Judge Price at Baltimore on or about the first day of December 1819 and was placed on the Pension roll of the Maryland Agency at the rate of $8 per month as per Certificate No. 15712 —
and I do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th March, 1818; and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled, "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March, 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed.

Schedule B.
(F.) one Cow $12. Three Pigs $6. five Sheep $7. $25 one Plough and some other farming utensils. 12 Some trifle of household furniture not exceeding 10 $47. 00
and lives on a poor piece of land at the Rent of $25 per annum.
That he hath no trade, but supported himself when able by working said small plantation but much reduced by advanced age and infirmity.
That his Family consists of his wife named Barbara aged 67 years, or thereabouts, a daughter named Barbara aged 17 years, and that he is in such reduced circum- stances as to be unable to support himself, and needs the assistance of his country for support without which he would be under the necessity of subsisting by private or public charity.
his Thomas X Foster mark
SWORN to and declared on the 13 th day of September 1820
BEFORE, the District Court aforesaid
I, Philip Moore Clerk of the said District Court do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath, and the Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of said court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Sche- dule is Forty seven Dollars and Cents.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of the said court, on this 21 st day of Septem 1820
Philip Moore Clerk of the court for the District of Maryland

* The whole of the form prescribed in the first section, to verify the amount of property of the applicant, the oath of the party, and the certificate of the clerk excepted, must be done while the court is in session.
† All are courts of record, within the contemplation of the Act of Congress:
1st, Which are expressly made courts of record by the laws of the State which create them;
2d, Which have been solemnly adjudged, by the tribunals of the several States, to be courts of record;
3d, Which proceed according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount;
4th, Which have the power of fine and imprisonment;
And courts which proceed according to the civil and canon law, having neither of those attributes, are not courts of record, although they may keep a registry of their proceedings, and possess a seal. The court should, in every instance, state, on the face of the proceedings, that it is a court of record, and state why it is such.—( Opinion of the Attorney General of the United States. )
DIRECTIONS FOR FILLING UP THE BLANKS.
A. District,—circuit,—county, or corporation, as the case may be.
B. State why a court of record.
C. After repeating the district, circuit, county, or corporation, insert the declarant's name.
D. District, circuit, county, or corporation.
E. Here set forth the regiment, company and line; or ship, corps or vessel, and the date of the original declaration; and if he has received a pension, the number of his pension-certificate should be inserted.
F. Here enumerate each article of real and personal estate, necessary bedding and clothing excepted, and subscribe the same. The declarant must also mention his occupation, his ability to pursue it, the number and names of his family residing with him, their ages, and their capacity to contribute to their support, in order that the department may be enabled to decide whether the applicant is in such indigent circumstances as to be entitled to the pension. It is the opinion of the Attorney General, that the words of the third section of the Act of the 1st May, 1820, "in such indigent circumstances as to be unable to support himself without the assistance of his country," comprehend those only, who are incapable of supporting themselves without the aid of the government, except by private or public charity.
Extract of a CIRCULAR LETTER from the War Department, to the several Agents for paying pensions, enclosing the foregoing Form.
"For the guidance of persons already on the pension list, or who may hereafter make application for that purpose, it may be proper to state, explicitly, that, as experience has proved the necessity of a rigid adherence to particular forms in such cases, no instrument of writing drawn up contrary to this form can be admitted as a proper voucher."

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written before me — Barbara  her  Faster J. M. Young Justice of the Peace 
York County ss J. M. Young Justice of the Peace in and for said county of York do certify that I know the above named Barbara Faster, and that she is by reason of bodily infirmity unable to appear at Court to make her declaration Certified under my hand and seal, this sixth day of April one thousand eight hundred and forty J. M. Young 
Pennsylvania York County, ss: William Elgenfritz, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said County, certify, that J. M. Young, Esquire , before whom the foregoing declaration was made, and by whom the above certificate was made, was at the time of signing the same, an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County of York, and as such was duly com- missioned and qualified; and that the signatures above purporting to be his are genuine —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Court of Common Pleas aforesaid, this first day of May, A.D. 1840. W. Elgenfritz Prothonotary

State of Pennsylvania York County
On this Sixth day of April A.D. one thousand eight hundred and forty personally appeared before the Subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in and for said county of York Barbara Foster a resident of Hopewell Township in said county of York, aged Eighty four years, who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Provision made by the act of Congress passed the Seventh day of July A.D. One thousand eight hundred and thirty eight entitled "An Act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows." That she is the widow of Thomas Foster who was (from what she heard, or recollects of hearing her said Husband say) a private soldier under the command of one Albright whether General or Captain she does not know, was in an engagement at Long Island was taken prisoner but succeeded in making his escape, enlisted in the service — and was in service about one year, thinks it was about seven years after his last service that she was married to him was a resident of the state of Maryland when he enlisted — —
She further declares that she was married to the said Thomas Foster on the Twenty Seventh day of November A.D. one thousand seven hundred and eighty six, that her husband the aforesaid Thomas Foster Died on the nineteenth day of November one thousand eight hundred and twenty six, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January one thousand eight hundred and ninety four. V iz on the time above stated.

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 2780
Barbara Foster
Widow.
Thomas Foster.
Pa. Pa. Line.
Act: July 7, 1838.
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 243-
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Barbara Foster Pennsylvania
Suspended
See let. 16 Jan 5 1840
Hon. J. Gerry,
do. 11 th May, 1840
do. 30 th May 1840
do. 7 July 1840
J. M. Young Aug 13 1840
Act 7 July 1838

Washington May 25 th 1840
Sir I herewith transmit Barbara Foster's declaration relative to family record, and John Starmer's testimony. Mr Starmer is a man of integrity, and veracity, and that Barbara was married to Foster. There never was entertained a doubt. I am personally acquainted with the people in the section, where Barbara and Foster lived and it is a matter of general notoriety that Foster had received a pension for some time, and until his death but in consequence of the children having left that country, and the only son who paid attention to his mother, his being dead. No person interested himself in obtaining the pension, until the necessitous condition of the old woman had elicited the attention of the neighborhood and knowing the justness of her claims they have thus been anxious generally to present her claims, and obtain a pension. Please inform me of the result of the case. J. L. Edwards Esq. Very Respectfully, Commissioner of Pensions Yours affec. Servt. J. G. Ferry.

6581
Barbara Hoster of Thomas Pennsylvania,
admitted
Pa: 10 mo. $33.33 bap. Albright Ch Miles. Pa.
died 19 Nov: 1825.
Acty July 1838.
J. M. Young Shrewsbury. York Co. Pa.

May 13. 1840
6581
@ a
7 July 1838
Rev. Thomas Clancey Pembine Wis. D.D.

May 13. 1840
6581
Q
7 Feb 1840
J. H. Edwards Esq. Responsibility of Pensioners
D. H.
John G. [?]

Washington May 11 th 1840
Sir
I herewith send you Barbara Foster's Declaration, and beg leave to state that her husband had received a pension until his death, but since that time that his widow has received none
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions
Very Respectfully Your old son J. Gerry

In - ab - Mar 8. cou of the West
J. S. Stevens Esq.
Washington
Mr. J. T. H. Worthington W.R.

House of Representatives
J. L. Edwards Esq.
March 8. 1838
Sir
Please to inform me whether the name of Thomas Foster of Maryland is on the pension roll, in your department, and at what time it was discontinued in consequence of his death.
Foster has a widow yet living, who is desirous of applying for a pension.
Please furnish me with the necessary blanks in such cases.
I also desire to know whether the name of Lefer Roshal of Md? appears on the roll. he is also dead leaving a widow the necessary blanks in her case is requested
Respectfully Yrs &c
John J. H. Worthington

6581 Barbara Foster of Thomas Pennsylvania
Hn. Jas. Gerry H.R.

York County ss
Before me the subscriber one of the justices of the peace in and for said County personally came Jesse Wantland, and being by me sworn according to Law doth depose and say, that he was present, when Thomas Foster, was married to Barbara Starmer by the Revd John Davis Minister of the Gospel, and heard him pronounce them man and wife according to Law, and lived together as such until the decease of Thomas Foster, and the said Barbara Foster is now the widow of said Thomas Foster Deed. and is in needy circumstances Sworn and subscribed the 8 th day of Jan. 1840 before me J. M. Young S. D. Jesse Wantland
York County ss
Before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in and for said County personally came Susanna Morris and being by me sworn according to Law doth depose and say that she was present when Thomas Foster was married to Barbara Starmer by the Revd John Davis Minister of the Gospel and heard him pronounce them man and wife according to Law, and that they lived together as such until the decease of Thomas Foster, and that the said Barbara Foster is now the widow of said Thomas Foster Deed. and is now in needy circumstances Sworn & subscribed before me the 8 th day of Jan. 1840 J. M. Young S. D. Susanna her Morris

Pennsylvania York County S.
William Elgenfritz, Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of said County, certify that J. M. Young, Esquire, before whom the within de- position was taken, is, and at the time of signing his name to the same, was an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, and as such is, duly Com- missioned and qualified, and that to all acts by him done in that capacity full faith & credit are due.
In testimony whereof I have here- unto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court, at York Borough, this Tenth day of January A. D 1820.
W. Elgenfritz Prothon.
Certificate by Seal 25 cts paid.

Ms. A. 9. 2. 1
Free
J. J. Edwards Esq. Com. of Pensions Washington City D.C.
Sept 10. 1840
Pa.
Shrewsbury Septm 9 th 1840
Boston
William Lloyd

Sept 10. 1820
Pa.
Shrewsbury Sept 9th 1820
free J. Edwards Esq. Com. of Persons Washington City D.C.
W. G. 1820

Shrewsbury York Co Pa
Sept. 9th 1840
Sir, Yours of the 18th August has come to hand and I have to say that all my attempts to procure a record proof of the Marriage of Mr & Mrs Deborah Foster has proved vain, Mr Davis has been dead for 30 years or more and where to find his books, Records &c, I know not. They were married in Hartford County Md. Consequently some say that agreeably to the Laws of Maryland the Marriage ought to be on Record at Annapolis, where (they say) every marriage in the State is registered — whether this be so I know not — but if Record proof cannot be had from this source then I give over of getting any at all.
In your last, an explanation is required relative to the Birth Baptisms & names &c of her children.
For the want of a family record the dates of their birth is not known.
Mrs Foster tells me that none of her children were baptized in their infancy (She belongs to the denomination of Christians called Dunkarts who do not baptize infants.) She does not know that even any were baptized after they had arrived to years of maturity.
I can assure you Sir that I should not have touched this subject with a ten foot pole if I had not been fully satisfied in my own mind that she was entitled to Pension, though it appears to be so difficult to procure the necessary proof.

M rs Foster has been in very limited circumstances and after his death she says that the children ran into the chest took all the papers which they thought of any account and all having moved four hundred miles to the west, she does not know where the family records if any could now be found, she says that she has not seen or heard of them since they left her, except one who lives - I think in Frankfort, Md. ever since the death of Mr Foster she was living with an aged female friend of hers until a year or so she died and Mrs Foster is obliged to live on her friend, she is very poor and very infirm - It was thought that as Mr Foster drew pension she would be entitled to draw some, the attempt was made which has yet been unsuccessful.
Here is a list of the names of her children as born, viz
1 Nancy, — Died without husband or child 2 George, — now living as far as she knows 3 Susan, — intermarried with Joshua Green 4 Elizabeth, — Died without husband or child 5 Sally, — Do — Do — Do — 6 Isabella, intermarried with Bernard Clatten 7 Rosina, Died without husband or child 8 Thomas, Died without wife or child 9 Barbara, intermarried with Benedict Husk

Should you, let me know as soon as practicable, how the case is likely to terminate
I remain Yours very Respectful J. H. Young
To J. S. Edwards Esq. Comm. of Pensions
Enclosed is a list

Washington January 15 th 1840
J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of pensions
Sir,
I am requested by Mrs Barbara Foster, the widow of Thomas Foster, who was a revolutionary soldier, and who received a pension, and died perhaps twelve or fourteen years ago, to have the pension paid to her. The amount which her husband was accustomed to receive, annually, with all back pay.
Mrs Barbara Foster and husband lived in Baltimore County Md. and her husband died in said County, she now lives in York Co Pa and is in very indigent circumstances. It may be asked why she did not apply previous to this time, the answer is she did not know. She was entitled to it, and living with a lady, who supported her, she was therewith satisfied, but that lady is dead, and all support cut off from that source. These are the reasons

assigned for her non application until this time.
The certificate of pension perhaps is lost. I have affidavits in my possession certifying that Mrs Barbara Foster is the lawful wife of Thomas Foster.
Very Respectfully Your old Friend James Gerry
P.S. I herewith send the affidavits please to communicate to me the necessary information relative to the entire case Yours Respectfully J. Gerry M.C.

July 7 1870
L. L. Edwards for Commissioner of Revenue
D. C.
Henry H. H. H.

Washington July 6 th 1840
Sir
I have presented to your consideration all the papers sent to me in relation to Mrs Barbara Hester's claims. The only testimony according to your last letter, which was required, was her declaration before a Judge of Court. The distance to the County Court from her residence is about fifteen miles. Her Her old age and extreme weakness and deformity of her person and modesty I understand prevents her from going to Court. I hope her peculiar situation will be taken into consideration.
Mr Edwards
Very Respectfully
Commissioner of Pensions Yours with sent J. Gerry

July 29. 1840
Shrewsbury pa
July 28 th
pa
Since July 7 1838
no 6581 - Schuylkill
neverly entered
Babara Foster
Edward Egan
Commissaire of Pensions
Washington City D.C.

State of Pennsylvania }s
On this 20 th day of July A.D. 1840 Personally appeared before the Subscriber President Judge of the several Courts of Records of the County of York Barbara Foster a Resident of Hopewell Township, County and State aforesaid, aged Eighty four years who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth, on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Provision made by the Act of Congress, passed July 7 th 1838 entitled An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows. That she is the widow of Thomas Foster, who was a private soldier, (As she was married subsequent to her husband leaving the service of his Country, she only recollects of hearing him say what is here said in regard to his services &c,) under the Command of one Albright (Whether Capt. or other officer does not know) enlisted in the service, was in service about one year, was in an engagement on Long-Island and taken prisoner, Resided in Maryland when he enlisted, and thinks it was about seven years after his leaving the army that they were married.
She further declares that she was married to the said Thomas Foster on the 27 th day of November A.D. 1785 and that her husband the aforesaid Thomas Foster died on the 19 th day of November A.D. one thousand Eight hundred and twenty five; That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January Seventeen hundred and ninety four, Viz; On the Twenty seventh day of November seventeen hundred and eighty five, as above stated.

She further declares that there is not now any family Record to her knowledge, that there was one, but after the decease of her husband thinks it was destroyed with some of his other papers or that some of her children may have taken it along to the West, to the best of her recollections thinks her youngest child is now about 40 years of age
I Affirmed Sworn to and Subscribed on the day and year above written, before
Barbara her Foster mark
D Durkee
York County
State of Pennsylvania
I Daniel Durkee President Judge of the several Courts of Record of York County do Certify that the above named Barbara Foster is by reason of bodily infirmity unable to appear in open Court in order to make her Declaration, to obtain the benefit of the Provision, made by act of Congress to obtain Pension. Certified under my hand the 20 th day of July A.D. One thousand Eight hundred and Forty
D Durkee

Shrewsbury York Co Pa. July 21 st 1840
Dear Sir
I herewith transmit to you the declaration of Mrs. Foster as made before Judge Dunklee, you will perceive that there is one year difference in the declaration made before me and the testimony of Mr. Starmer here being in 1784 and his in 1785 it was afterwards discovered that the mistake was only made in the calculation of the time in her declaration. You are perhaps not aware of the fact that Mr. Foster drew pension, and his name found on Record in Baltimore. So that if this declaration is not sufficient to prove her claim &c, with the testimony now with you, would I think go in some degree to corroborate her claim.
If the evidence now laid before you is not sufficient to entitle her to pension you will please have the goodness once for all to state all that may yet be required.
If she can draw pension out the evidence produced you will please say where and what authority a person would have to have from her to draw the same.
Yours very Respectfully
J. M. Young
A. S. Edwards Esq.

20 J. L. Edwards Esq Commissary of Pensions J. L. H. N. Henry H. N.

J. L. Edwards Esq. Commr of Pensions
Henry H. H.
J. L.

York County Pa
Before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the Peace in and for said County personally appeared. Barbara Foster Wilson of Thomas Foster decd. and being duly sworn according to Law did make the following declaration, in order to obtain Pension under the act of Congress passed the 7th day of July 1838 entitled An act allowing or granting half pay and pensions to certain widows
On her said oath did make the following declaration viz that there is no Public Record of the Family and that there was a family record, but does not know where it is or what became of it — but if it be in existence it must be with some of her children who moved to the west, further South not. Witness my hand and seal the 19th day of May A.D. 1840
Sworn to and subscribed the 19th day of May 1840 before me
J. M. Young Clerk
Barbara Foster mark

State of Pennsylvania York County Ys
Before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in and for said County of York Personally appeared John Starmer, who being duly sworn according to Law does on his said oath declare and say that he was present when Thomas Foster was married to Barbara Starmer by the Revd. Davis, and that it was in the fall of the year 1785. The circumstance by which he knows or recollects is this, that, he was married himself some 6 or 8 weeks before Foster was married which was to the best of his recollection in Sept. 1785 when he was married and thinks that Foster might have been married in the latter part of Oct. or in Nov. of the same year, he further declares that by referring to his Family records that his (Starmer's) first child was born in the year 1786 and that the said Barbara will be 84 years of age by the 7 th day of Sept. 1840
Sworn to and subscribed the 22 d day of May A.D. 1840 before me J. M. Young
John Starmer
See Mr. George ...

State of Maryland City of Baltimore to wit:
On this fifth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen before me the undersigned Chief Judge of Baltimore City Court personally appearing Thomas Foster of Baltimore County and State aforesaid aged seventy one years or thereabout, an applicant for a pension under the late act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary war", and then and there made the following declaration on oath by me administered: "That he the said Thomas Foster enlisted for the term of one year and nine months, at York Town in the state of Pennsylvania on or about the first day of March 1776 into Captain Philip Albright's Company of the Rifle Regiment Commanded by Colonel Mills or Miles in the Pennsylvania Line, in the actual service of the United States on the Continental establishment, that he marched with & continued to serve in said Corps until taken prisoner by the British at Long Island on the 27 August 1776, remained a prisoner until the sixth day of January 1777 when he made his escape and returned to the American Army and was discharged by General Washington at Morris Town, in New Jersey in consequence of his wound on the 15th month of February of same year, 1777, after being more than nine months, in actual service in the actual service of the United States on the Continental establishment - That he was in the battle at Long Island in the state of New York aforesaid where he was wounded in the left arm or hand by a Musket Ball - that he has no knowledge of any officer or private with whom he served, residing in the City or County of Baltimore therefore hath no other testimony to offer in addition to the certificates herewith exhibited, which were taken in York."

in the State of Pennsylvania. That in consequence of his reduced circumstances, he requires the assistance of his country for support.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this said 11 th day of Sep: 1815. Thomas Foster N. Price Clerk J. Baily Clerk
City of Baltimore ss.
I hereby certify that from the declaration of Thomas Foster made this day before me on oath, and the testimony thereto annexed, it has been made appear to my satisfaction that he served nine months & upwards, in continuance in the Revolutionary War, on the Continental establishment - as a private soldier - and that he is in reduced circumstances and needs the assistance of his country for support -
N. Price Clerk of the Baltimore City Court.

State of Maryland, City of Baltimore.
I, Thomas Harwood Clerk of Baltimore City Court do certify, that the Honorable Nicholas Bruce before whom the foregoing proceedings were taken and entered, and who hath thereto subscribed his name, was at the time of so doing, and still is Chief Judge of Baltimore City Court, duly commissioned and qualified and to all his acts as such, full faith & credit is and ought to be given.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court this first day of September Eighteen hundred & nineteen.
T. Harwood Clerk Baltimore City Court

Baltimore 2 nd Sept. 1818
Sir,
Being myself entirely illiterate, I was governed by the advice of gentlemen in my neighbourhood who I did suppose were competent to point out the proper mode of application for a pension for Revolutionary services - I was directed to go into the state in which I enlisted and from thence make my application, I accordingly repaired to York County in the State of Pennsylvania and there obtained the documents heretofore forwarded and herewith annexed, which were returned rejected in consequence of not having made my application from the state in which I at present reside. The requisitions of the law being now complied with, I hope the error above mentioned will not prevent my receiving a pension from the time I made my original "declaration" before the Hon ble George Barnitz of Pa a
I have the honor to be, with Great respect Sir, your most ob st Serv t
Witness J. Bailey
M rs X. Fisher mark

Penn a
York County ss
Personally appeared before me the subscriber one of the Justices of the peace in and for said County Jonathan Jacobs who upon his solemn affirmation taken according to law saith that he personally knew Thomas Foster in the revolutionary army of the United States for more than nine months at one continued time - and that the said Thomas Foster was taken prisoner by the opposing army on Long Island. And further saith not  Affirmed and subscribed } Jonathan Jacob before me this 22 nd day of June A. D. 1819
D. Hecker
I do hereby certify that Jonathan Jacobs is personally known to me and that he is a credible witness. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day and year aforesaid
D. Hecker

Pennsylvania
York County ss
I William Barber Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in and for said County do hereby certify that Daniel Heckert is now was at the time of taking the within deposition a justice of the Peace in and for the said County of York, duly appointed and commissioned as such and that due faith and credit is given to all his official acts and proceedings In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said court at York this twenty second day of June A 1819.
W Barber pro

Thomas Horton Private y 6 to 74 Miles Pennsylvanian Rest
Family

Baltimore County State of Maryland To the Honourable Judges of Baltimore County Court, Greeting,
We the subscribers do hereby certify that we are acquainted personally with Thomas Foster of said County, And we have reason to believe that said Foster is reduced to low circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance provided by the act of Congress for those soldiers that served in the Revolutionary War, said Foster states he was one.
August 18 th 1819.
Subscribers.
Joseph Cooper
Henry Cole
Joshua Bullison
Joshua Goad
John Matthews
Kensey Johns
n n n
J. Murray
Hon. N. Brice
Four of the above named Gentlemen are well known to me as persons of property & respectability - Respectfully &c
Feb y 1 st 1819
W. M. Murray